On the Media How Debate Took Over the Internet. Plus, a Case for Confronting the Past.
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Jan 2, 2026 
Mehdi Hasan, journalist and editor-in-chief of Zeteo, shares insights from his confronting debates with far-right conservatives on Jubilee, tackling the evolving nature of political discourse online. He raises critical questions about the fine line between platforming extremist views and fostering understanding. Meanwhile, Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, emphasizes the importance of truthful historical memory, arguing against the erasure of painful histories. He inspires hope through storytelling and advocates for public narratives that honor the legacy of slavery and racial violence.
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Radical Empathy Meets Algorithmic Rage
- Jubilee's founder Jason Y. Lee frames the channel as creating "radical empathy" by staging opposing voices to find common ground.
- Taylor Lorenz and guests argue algorithmic incentives push the format toward sensationalism and shock value.
Flat Earth Episode Went Viral
- Jubilee's episode pairing flat earthers with scientists became its most watched Middle Ground episode with 31 million views.
- The show presented humanizing backstories while still drawing criticism for platforming demonstrably false beliefs.
Format Prioritizes Drama Over Representativeness
- Jubilee's Surrounded format piles 20 opponents around one central guest to maximize drama rather than representativeness.
- That structure can falsely equalize fringe views and produce clips that distort the full debate.
